The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1887-08-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


viting proposals for the sale of large amount
of a per cent. United States bonds and per
cent. bonds and also Pacific railroad bonds,
with a rebate of 2 per cent. per annum on the
amount prepaid. Explanatory Of this action
Secretary Fairchld says he thought it the
best thing he could do under the crcum-
stances-hs purchase of bonds being for the
purpose of providing for the sinking finds and
the anticipation of interest is for the purpose
of removing the surplus. The interest re-
ferred to in the order amounts to 22,319, 1874
and the sinking fund to about S26,OOO,OO0,
added to the $50, 900 of , per cent. bonds
previously applied to that fund. The Secre-
| tary says that the surplus can only be disposed
of through the cooperation of the bond
holders, and that if they do not accept the
terms of his offer 10 them, it would appear
that they are not greatly in need of money.
The Controller of the Currency has given
notice to the national banks requiring them
to submit to him full statement Of their
affairs at the close of business August 1st-in
default of which they will be fined and the
sums paid into the United States Treasury
| the purpose being to see whether these insti-
tutions have their finances in proper shape to
meet any requirements necessary in handling
| this years crops.
During the month of july 03l6 names
| were added to the pension rolls by the Demo-
cratic Admins ration, which, according to
Republican partisans, has nothing but hatred
and hostility to the Union Veterans.
The pension which was put through by
Fcrger Harvey. as Attorney for widow,
turns out. upon closer investigation to be a
| fraud-and thus nearly $4,000 was, at the last
moment saved to the Government. The Pen
sion Office offers Il 2reat field for fraudulent
manipulatons, but. the eel-doors almost in
| variably come to grief: two men have just
| been arrested in West Virginia on a charge
of forgery III connection with pension case.
Public Printer Benedict's reply to the New
York Tribune's charge that he Disseminated
against Union soldiers in making appoint
| ments or dsmissals is clear and convincing to
| the last degree, showing. as it does, that AIR
| Benedict is true and careful guardian of the
| interests of the soldiers, for according to al
actual census of the office, taken by him.
about one-half Of its employees are either
| Union Veterans or their widows and children
all Of whom are protected in their positions
| by special Statute, but, which the present
| Printers Republican predecessors ignored
| when it applied TO Democratic Union soldiers
| examples that might well warrant retaiia-
tons in kind or his part-still, he has not
! done so, but, impartially given, to all whom
| if is due, the benefits of this class legislation.
Mr. Benedict has increased the working ca
| pacity of the establishment, although COM
pelled to reduce the force, and has won the
| lasting gratitude OF all the employees by pay
ing semi-moLthly, instead of monthly. as was
| the rule under the Republican regime.
Secretary Lamar's request that the heads OF
| bureaus of the Interior Department present
| their annual reports much earlier than hereto
fore strongly tends TIC confirm the general
impression that he viii! soon be transferred to
the Supreme Bench. Mr.. Lamar would
adorn that lofty tribunal as few men in Am
erica could, for, in addition to being the first
among Southern Statesmen aud jursts, his
mind is cast in a judicial mould. President
Cleveland saws of him, that of all the men he
| has ever met lie believes Secretary Lamar to
| possess the cearest and il3st profound in
| telect.
About twenty patent Attorneys of WASH
ington who were the beneficiaries of Bacon S
generosity with the public funds have been
notified that unless they Immediately refund
the sums borrowed-some 5000 it will be
considered cause for disbarring them from
practice before the Interior Department; the
bOndsmen of the late financial clerk have
sgnified their willingness 70 pay his defalca-
ton when it is certified TO properly.
The chief topic of local interest is the tria
of naval surgeon Crawford for leading astray
a schoolgirl of thirteen and Madam Grundy
is expecting sensational Developments. The
Judge has decided an important and interes-
ting legal point that the case can be tried
under the Edmonds Utah law--thc first of the
kind on record here. think conviction
rather doubtful, for the reason that one of the
Governments principal witnesses has been
spirited away, The little correspondent is in
New York, but process has been issued for
her.
Mrs. Cleveland is gleefuliy disporting her
self in the foamy waves of BuzZards Bay on
the coast of New England. The other day in
the little village of Marion. where she stops, it
was nOised abroad that Mrs. Cleveland was
going to take plunge in the smt, but, when
she appeared on the beach 1000 people We're
assembled to gee the sight, yet need hardly
add they were disappointed.